Nevada military personnel honored at annual gala

More than 700 guests attended the third annual Nevada Military Support Alliance gala March 28 at the MGM Grand Conference Center. The formal evening honors the Nevada men and women of the United States armed forces.

The event’s proceeds will support construction of the Las Vegas Fisher House, which had a groundbreaking March 27 on the campus of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Las Vegas. The Fisher House is designed to provide free housing to families of injured military personnel while they recover at the hospital.

The alliance also presented a $300,000 gift for the creation of the new Veteran and Military Members Activities Center on the University of Nevada, Reno campus to be housed in the new William N. Pennington Student Achievement Center now under construction and scheduled to open in 2016.

With the support of so many loyal Nevadans, the alliance will continue to hold galas once a year at the Silver Legacy Resort in Reno and the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

The cocktail reception allowed guests to make new friends and renew old friendships.

Seen among the guests were Heather Murren, Bill Boyd, Sue Sullivan, Brig. Gen. Stephen Whiting and Tammy Whiting, Col. Ross R. Anderson and Doni Anderson, Barbara Lee Woolen and Bruce Woollen, former Nevada Gov. Bob List and Polly List, Barbara Molasky and Mike Sloan, former state Sen. Randolph Townsend and Robyne Townsend, retired Gen. John Abizaid and Kathy Abizaid, Jane and Paul Caudill, Andra and Paul Maffey, Chief Master Sgt. Steven Cleveland and Vanessa Cleveland, Lori Smith, and Col. Robert Ramsden.

UNLV’s ROTC presented the colors and Bishop Gorman student Alexa Wells sang the national anthem.

The dining room was beautifully decorated with futuristic fresh floral centerpieces. The stage backdrop featured 57 red flags centered with a gold star, symbolizing the loss of a Nevada service member’s life this decade.

The event’s master of ceremonies was Nevada Military Support Alliance President Scott Bensing. Introduced was alliance board Chairman Perry Di Loreto of Carson City, who has done so much to get the Fisher House project going.

Board Vice Chairman Joe Brown described the organization’s history. Brown has worked with the Legislature for the past 12 years to raise money to support families of the fallen.

Retired Maj. Gen. Ronald J. Bath serves the organization as the board’s vice chairman/treasurer.

The evening’s guest speaker was retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Myers has held command positions at every level, including commander of U.S. Space Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Forces Japan and two fighter wings. He also served more than 600 combat hours as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War.

It was an emotional moment when special guests were introduced: Nevada Military Support Alliance ambassadors Army Sgt. Timothy Hall and Dylan Gray. Also introduced was Gaetano Benza, 90, a World War II veteran who fought at Normandy Beach.

More guests attending were Teresa Di Loreto, Pam Brown, Sam and Maryanne Boyd Johnson, Congressman Joe Heck and Lisa Heck, Sue and Barry Becker, Kenna and Jeff Cooper, Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, Gen. Ondra Berry, Attorney General Adam Laxalt, Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison, Sue and Bart Masi, Beth and Bill Weinberger, Kema and Jonathan Ogden, and Barbara Bath.